The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday issued a new set of suggested retail prices (SRP) for basic agricultural commodities sold in Metro Manila’s wet markets.

The SRP, the DA said, excludes supermarkets.

According to the Agriculture department, the update was necessary as changing cost structures in the supply chain require updating to allow retailers to realize reasonable profit, while ensuring that consumers are protected from profiteering.

The updated SRP — contained in DA Administrative Circular (AC) No. 17, signed by Agriculture Secretary William Dar on November 26, 2020 — serves to guide retailers and consumers amid the Luzon-wide price freeze imposed in light of the pandemic and the series of calamities that have devastated the country.

The DA-AC 17 revokes other previous orders (ACs 16, 14 and 11) and will remain in effect for two months or until a new AC on the same matter is issued.

The new set of SRP covers seven categories, namely rice, livestock and poultry, fish, lowland and highland vegetables, fruits, spices, and other basic items.